The name Boroughs arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Boroughs family lived in Hampshire. The name was given to settlements located near a hill, and is from the Old English beorg, which means hill. It is from one of many English settlements so named that this family take their name.

Boroughs Early Origins

The surname Boroughs was first found in Hampshire where they were descended from Hubert de Burgh, who became Lord of the Manor of Tichfield in that county.

The township of Middleton in Lancashire is of particular historical importance to the family. "In the reign of Henry III., Hubert de Burgh, ( c. 1170-1243) Earl of Kent, lord chief justice of England, had a grant of the whole of Wyresdale, with remainder to his heirs: he left two sons, from one of whom descended the Burghs or Borroughs, of Gainsborough; and it is probable that William de Burgh, of Middleton, who died about 1323, was descended also from the chief justice." [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.

Boroughs Spelling Variations

Boroughs Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Burrough, Burgh, Borrows, Burrowes, Burroughs, Burrows, Burroughes and many more.

Boroughs Early History

Boroughs Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Boroughs research. Another 275 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1500, 1600, 1646, 1630, 1677, 1634, 1663, 1691, 1764, 1713, 1650, 1692, 1641, 1650, 1641, 1642, 1620, 1685, 1673, 1660, 1709, 1703, 1709 and are included under the topic Early Boroughs History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boroughs Early Notables (pre 1700)

Boroughs Early Notables (pre 1700)

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Jeremiah Burroughs (sometimes Burroughes) (c. 1600-1646), an English Congregationalist and a well-known Puritan preacher; Isaac Barrow (1630-1677), an English Christian theologian, and mathematician who is generally given credit for his early role in the development of infinitesimal calculus, tutor of Isaac Newton; Edward...

Another 98 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Boroughs Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Boroughs In Ireland

Boroughs In Ireland

Some of the Boroughs family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Another 208 words (15 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration

Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Boroughs name or one of its variants:

Boroughs Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Boroughs, who landed in Maryland in 1655

Sarah Boroughs, who arrived in Maryland in 1670

Motto

Motto

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Shaw, William A. Knights of England A Complete Record from the Earliest Time to the Present Day of the Knights of all the Orders of Chivalry in England, Scotland, Ireland and Knights Bachelors 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing. Print. (ISBN 080630443X).

Fairbairn. Fairbain's book of Crests of the Families of Great Britain and Ireland, 4th Edition 2 volumes in one. Baltimore: Heraldic Book Company, 1968. Print.

The Boroughs Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Boroughs Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.